Are You Allergic to Condoms?

Are You Allergic to Condoms?

For those who practice safe sex, condoms are definitely a part of your regular routine. However, an allergy to latex condoms can take a lot of joy out of the experience. An allergy to latex condoms isn’t uncommon and is the same as any other contact allergy. Are you allergic to condoms? We discuss the symptoms and solutions below.

Symptoms Of a Condom Allergy

Here are some of the common symptoms associated with condom allergies.

1. Itching

Usually, the first symptom of a condom allergy would be itching– which can be troublesome and embarrassing, especially if you’re in the middle of lovemaking. Depending on how serious the allergy is, the itchy sensation can be mild to severe. The itching can be felt along the shaft of the penis and around the groin area at the base of the penis– basically the parts covered by the condom.

2. Rash

If the allergy isn’t that severe, the rash usually appears within eight hours of exposure to condoms. The rash brought by an allergy can range from being mild to severe. Likewise, it can be accompanied by an itching or burning sensation, as well as a change in the color of your genital– it can be either pink or red, depending on your skin color. The skin can also be quite flaky when scratched. Although there has been cases where the rash is quite troublesome, most of the time, it wouldn’t be and it usually subsides after a few hours.

3. Burning Sensations

Similar with contact dermatitis, if you’re allergic to condoms, you’ll feel a burning sensation in your groin area that has been in contact with the condom.

4. Blisters

Once you develop blisters around your private region, then this can be an indication that you have been exposed to the cause of allergy for a very long period of time. These blisters form around or in areas that have been repeatedly exposed to latex.

These blisters are the result of the immune system trying its best to defend itself against the cause of allergy– which is the latex condom– as it’s deemed as a threat to the body. Often water-filled, these can be quite painful and should not be popped.

5. Anaphylaxis

For those who really have a bad allergy to condoms, an Anaphylaxis shock may happen, and this needs immediate treatment. Once you experience shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the lips, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and many more. You should visit an emergency room immediately. If left untreated, this can lead to severe complications because of the constriction of the airways.

Why Are Some People Allergic to Condoms?

Unfortunately, there aren’t any explanations as to why some people are allergic to latex condoms. However, scientists believe that those who are more exposed to certain chemicals and substances found in the condom, are more likely to develop an allergic reaction to it. This explains why those who make latex products, as well as those who wear it on a constant basis. develop an allergy later on.

Allergic reaction can also be associated with certain triggers. For instance, I f you’re allergic to latex, then there’s a possibility that you’re also allergic to certain food, which can make your allergy worse, if combined with another trigger.

How To Manage A Condom Allergy

Allergic reactions are usually confirmed with a patch test, skin text, Radio-Allegro-Sorbent-Test, and blood test. The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to stay away from allergens, in this case, latex condoms.

Fortunately, there’s a lot of alternatives that you can use if you’re allergic to latex– there are condoms made of natural membranes, polyurethane, and there are even synthetic ones. Though, it’s worth noting that the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention also warns people that natural membrane condoms are not highly advisable because it cannot fully protect the wearer from sexually transmitted diseases, and the not-latex condoms usually have higher breakage and slippage rates than the ones made of latex.

Final Words

A lot of those who are allergic to condom have a latex allergy, but there are some individuals who are probably allergic to other substances or chemicals present in the common. So, the best way to determine the real cause of allergy is to consult a qualified physician once you experience some of the symptoms discussed above. If you are allergic to condoms, there are non-latex condom options available.